Trees, shrubs or lianas, rarely herbaceous climbers. Leaves spirally arranged, rarely opposite or whorled, usually compound; pseudostipules sometimes present, leaf rachis ending in a terminal tip. Inflorescences axillary, pseudoterminal, terminal or ramiflorous; thyrsoid or paniculate; cymes 1- to many-flowered. Flowers usually small and unisexual, radially or bilaterally symmetric. Sepals 4--5, free or connate, equal to unequal. Petals absent or 2--6, free, usually clawed, often with 1 or 2 scales or auricles at the inner side, scales crested or not. Disc around the stamens, complete or interrupted. Stamens 5--10 (--74), usually 8. Ovary superior, 1--3 (--8)-celled, style 1, stigma 1 with 2 or 3 lines or grooves or 1--3-lobed. Fruit a capsule, drupe, schizocarp or berry, sometimes winged. Seeds frequently with an arillode or a sarcotesta.
General info
Distribution Widespread in (sub)tropical regions of the world, about 140 genera with about 1350 species. In Malesia 42 genera with c. 235 species. Ecology Understorey to mid-canopy trees, usually in closed forests. Uses Many fruit species, like Dimocarpus longan (longan), Litchi chinensis (litchi, lichee), Nephelium lappaceum (rambutan) (seed envelopes eaten); ornamentals Filicium decipiens, Koelreuteria sp. (street trees). The wood of several species is used for timber. Various species are used as medicine, vegetables, soap or fish poison. Similar to May be confused with Anacardiaceae, Burseraceae and Meliaceae which all have intrastaminal discs. Anacardiaceae have black sap, Burseraceae have drupaceous fruits with fleshy pericarps, Meliaceae have the stamens united in a short or long tube.
Family description
Trees, shrubs or lianas, rarely herbaceous climbers.Leaves spirally arranged, rarely opposite or whorled, usually compound; pseudostipules sometimes present, leaf rachis ending in a terminal tip.
Inflorescences axillary, pseudoterminal, terminal or ramiflorous; thyrsoid or paniculate; cymes 1- to many-flowered.
Flowers usually small and unisexual, radially or bilaterally symmetric. Sepals 4--5, free or connate, equal to unequal. Petals absent or 2--6, free, usually clawed, often with 1 or 2 scales or auricles at the inner side, scales crested or not. Disc around the stamens, complete or interrupted. Stamens 5--10 (--74), usually 8. Ovary superior, 1--3 (--8)-celled, style 1, stigma 1 with 2 or 3 lines or grooves or 1--3-lobed.
Fruit a capsule, drupe, schizocarp or berry, sometimes winged. Seeds frequently with an arillode or a sarcotesta.
General info
Distribution Widespread in (sub)tropical regions of the world, about 140 genera with about 1350 species. In Malesia 42 genera with c. 235 species.Ecology Understorey to mid-canopy trees, usually in closed forests.
Uses Many fruit species, like Dimocarpus longan (longan), Litchi chinensis (litchi, lichee), Nephelium lappaceum (rambutan) (seed envelopes eaten); ornamentals Filicium decipiens, Koelreuteria sp. (street trees). The wood of several species is used for timber. Various species are used as medicine, vegetables, soap or fish poison.
Similar to May be confused with Anacardiaceae, Burseraceae and Meliaceae which all have intrastaminal discs. Anacardiaceae have black sap, Burseraceae have drupaceous fruits with fleshy pericarps, Meliaceae have the stamens united in a short or long tube.
Treated genera
Harpullia sp
Litchi chinensis
Nephelium lappaceum
Pometia pinnata